The Girl with Brains in Her Feet

This directorial debut may explore familiar territory (a girl's coming of age), but it opens up Jo Hodges' screenplay with a light touch, and elicits engaging performances from its principals, notably Joanna Ward as 13-year-old 'Jack'. Secret smoker, T-Rex fan and nascent track runner, this energetic Leicester schoolgirl shows a nifty ability to sidestep the challenges and irritations life throws up, be it domestic interference (her mum's a nag), scarcely veiled racism, the perils of adolescent sex - or the lack of training shoes. It's not in the league of Kes, on which it leans for inspiration, but it gives notice of sensitive new talent.